Paper-fastening clasp



G, C. MOXON. PAPER FASTENING CILAVSF. APPucATloN man SEPT. 25. 1917.

Patented Apr. 6, 1920.

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A UUR/VE VS -into its fastened position.

TINTTEn sTaTEis PATENT cTTTcE. i

GEORGE c. ivioXoN, or NEW YORK, N. Y.

PAPER-EASTENING CLASP.

application is directed to an improvement Y over the device disclosed in my co-pending application for envelop clasps, filed Decem-V ber 22, 1914, Serial No. 87 8,485 and allowed May 23rd, 1917.

In the device disclosed in my above identilied application it was found that when the clasps were mounted on envelops and the envelops stacked, the pressure of the envelops would press on the bill portion of the clasp forcing the bendable finger at the end thereof into fastened engagement with its holding means. It was therefore necessary for the user, first to separate the bendable finger from its holding means before the clasp could be used. Obviously this was not only annoying but where a frail grade of metal was used the bending back'of the linger tended to break it off.

Accordingly, one of the objects of my present invention is to provide a construction of clamp designed to protect the bendable linger against any accidentalv closing A further object of the invention is Vto provide an improved formof .bendable finger guiding means designed to be stamped from the body portion of the clasp -and free of edges which may tear the envelop or associated parts. e l

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved means for fastening the clasp to theenvelop associated therewith in such a manner that the `configuration of the clasp will be maintained through the reinforcing effect'of the portion of the envelopengaged by the base of the clasp.

A still further object of the invention is to reinforce the bendable member without the necessity of adding material to give the necessary reinforcement where thin metal is used to form the clasp.

`Various other objects and advantages of the invention will be in ypart obvious from Specification of Letters Patent. Patented ADI'. 6, 1920.

Application led September 25,. V1917. i

Serial No. 193,059.

an inspection of the accompanyingdrawf ings and in part will be more fully set forth in the following particular description of one form of mechanism embodying my invention, and the invention also consists in certain new and novel features vof construction and combination of parts hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing an open envelop with a preferred embodimenty of my invention in position thereon;

Fig. 2 is a view in rear elevation of kthe device shown inF ig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing the bendable finger in locked position,Y

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view Ytaken .on the'line 4 4; of Fig. 2 and Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional View taken through the claspv applied to the envelop K and in its fastened position. v

While the invention is obviously of 'gen- `eral application wherever. a plurality of penetratable members are to be fastened together it will be described in its application with reference to envelops of the type used in mailingV cataloguesv and the like. Y

In the drawings there is Villustrated an envelop having a back portion 10 and a flap 11, designed to overlap the outer portion of said'back'to close the opening of the envelop as is usual with devices of this character. The clasp is preferably av onepiece sheet-metal member die stamped to form and having a base portion 12, opposite ends of which are fastened tothe back 10 by means of punch eyelets 14. The clasp also includes a strip 15 bent forwardly from one end of the base portion to Voverlap the same and to form a bill portion positioned .above and extending parallel to the base portion. The free end of the bill portion op-l posite the bend 16 is bent inwardly at a sharp angle toward the base portionto forma bendable linger 17. kThe billportion is preferably reduced in width from the bend 16 toward the finger 17 to eect a 'saving of material. The finger terminates in a sharp edge 1S adapted to punch itsway through the flap 11 in a manner hereinafter described. The portion of the baseadj acent the bendablenger 17 is pressed out ofthe plane of the base portion .to form a V1-shaped A.projection 19 ldesigned to extend beyond the bill portion as shown in Fig. '5, when the bendable linger 17 is moved toward the base portion. rThe side of the projection facing the bendable finger is constructed to n provide a means for engaging the finger and to bend the same back under thevbelt portion and into a locked position. This means is formed of two parallel slots 20, -shape in plane oppositely disposed and coacting to form a pair of shoulders 2l. rfhe portion ofthe projection 22, which is positioned between the slots, is pressed back out of the plane ofthe balance of the projection so as to position the shoulders 21 forwardly of the projection as shown more particularly in Fig. d. The space between the shoulders is of aV width greater than the width of the Y Vagainst distortional strains but prevents the operators finger from engagingthe edges soY lapped over the open end and positioned be- Cir 'of the bill which may be left sharp by the pressing and die-cutting operation.

ln operation, the flap of the envelop 1s tween the bill and base portions of the clasp. lt is not necessary that the flap be perforated,'but the Vflap may be provided with a perforation or a series of perforations to contain the finger if desired. Pressure is exerted on the bill portion to force the same into position parallel and relatively close to the base portion or into engagement with the back of the flap. This action forces the finger through whatever portion of the flap happens to be in line with the same and onto the incline provided by the portion 22. Continuing the pressure at the free end of the bill causes the finger to be bent by the inoline until it fits within the slot and hooks 'under 'the shoulders 21 as shown in Fig. 5 in which position it is held by the rigidity of the metal.

Vfhen the clasp is positioned on envelops Vand packed for shipping, it is obvious that the envelops will crowd the bill portion inwardly toward the base portion but this crowding action of the envelops cannot force the finger back of the shoulders. The projection 19 which extends outwardly from the base a distance sufiicient to overlap the bill portion receives the thrust of any article pressing` on the bill portion beforethe bendable finger is moved into its fully clasped position engaging the shoulders 2l. In this way accidental locking of the envelop is prevented and accidental moving of the bendable finger into its finally locked position, is avoided.

The parts are made of the lightest possible metal and the necessary strength is incorporated in the construction .first by the strengthening of the bill portion through the embossing of the same and the base portion is strengthened both by the offset projection and by the disposition of the eyelets on opposite sides of the bent portion of the base. Where the eyelets engage stiftl cardboard and the like, the base vportion can be made relatively light and dependence made upon the cardboard for the necessary rigidity. V

' lWhile I have shown and described, and

- have pointed out in the annexed claims, certain novel features of my invention, it will be understood that various omissions, substitutions and changes 1n the form and details Y of the device illustrated and ink its operation tion, means Vfor fastening the basesportion to Y the envelop, said base portion provided with a bill portion positioned above and extending parallel to the base portion, the free end Vofsaid bill portion being defined by a bendable finger projecting toward the base portion, said base portion providedwith means for bending the finger when the latter is purposely pressed into engagement with Vsaid bending means, and means associated with said bendable finger for preventing an accidental engagement of the bendablc finger with said bending means.

2. A clasp for fastening the flap to the body portion of an envelop comprising a one-piece metal member having a baseportion and means for fastening the base portion to ythe envelop, said base portion provided with a bill portion positioned above and extending parallel to the base portion, the free end of said bill portion being defined by a bendable finger projecting toward the base portion, said base portion provided with means for bending the finger when the latter is purposely pressed into engagement A with said bending-means, said base portion provided with a projection on thejside thereof'faoing the bill yportion and positioned to the outside of the bill portion when the latter is pressed toward the base portion.

3. A clasp for fastening the flap to the body portion of an envelop ,comprising a one-piece metal member having a base portion, means for fastening thebase portion to the envelop, said base portion provided with a bill portion positioned above and extending parallel to the base portion, the free end of said bill portion being defined by a bendable linger projecting toward the base portion, said base portion provided with means for bending the linger when the latter is purposely pressed into' engagement with said bending means, said base portion provided with a projection on the side thereof facing the bill portion and positioned to the outside of the bill portionwhen the latter is pressed toward the base portion, the bending means being so positioned relative tothe top of the projection that the bill must be pressed below the top of the projection to engage said bending means.

4. A clasp for fastening the Hap to the body portion of an envelop comprising a one piece metal member having a flat base por- 'tion, eyelets adjacent opposite ends of the base portion for fastening the same to the f envelop said base portion being bent intermediate the eyelets to form a projection eX- tending to one side of the plane of the base portion, a bill portion positioned on the same side as the projection and having its free end reduced in width to form a bendable finger adapted to be moved with the bill portion toward the base portion and to one side of the projection and means carried by the base portion for engaging said bendable finger.

5. A clasp for fastening the flap to the body portionl of an envelop comprising a one piece metal member having a base portion, eyelets adjacent opposite endsof the base portion for fastening the same to the envelop said base portion being bent intermediate theeyelets to form a projection eX- tending to one side of the base portion, and a bill portion positioned on the same side` as the projection and provided with a bendable finger adapted to be moved with Vthe bill portion toward the base portion and to one side of the projection, the side of the projection facing the bendable finger being slit and bent to form a finger bending means adapted to engage the finger when pressed into engagement therewith to bend the iinger into locking position.

6. An article of manufacture comprising' a stamped metal clasp comprising a flat base portion provided with a bent portion projecting from one side of the flat base portion, one side of said projection having a pair of slits therein and the portion to the sides of the slits being depressed out of the plane of the portion between the slits, the

the slits being depressed out of the plane of the portion between the slits, the portion between the slits constituting a linger bending part offset from said base portion, and a bill portion terminating in j a bendable finger adapted to engage said part toy be bent f thereby, said slits providing an opening adapted to receive the bent finger.

8. A clasp including two members, and means for locking said two members together comprising a portion on one of the members formed between -two parallel slits and joined to said member at its upper and lower ends and inclined in one direction, and a portion on the other member bendable in'the direction of the incline and adapted to be engaged by the inclined portion and' bent when the two membersare forced together.

9. A one-piece clasp comprising two members fastened together at one end, means for fastening one of said members in position, a portion of one of said members being adapted to be passed through an element to be positioned between said members, an'incline formed on the other member between parallel slits, the portion having the inclinebeing joined to its member at both ends, said portion being bendable in the direction of the incline when engaged thereby.

10. A clasp provided with a base portion,

a part of said base portion being bent to form an offset projection, said projection having a pair of parallel slits and being otherwise imperforate with the portion between the slits depressed to form an incline, and a bill portion provided with albendable finger bendable in the direction of the slits adapted to engage said incline to be guided thereby and bent into locking position.

Signed at New York cit in the county of New York and State of ew York this 18 day of September A. D. 1917.

GEORGE C. MOXON. 

